The DNA of Aztec conquest: Genetic evidence tracks missing inhabitants of Mexican city

Nature ^ | Wednesday, October 24, 2012 | Brian Switek

[SunkenCiv]

Mata-Míguez and his colleagues sampled mitochondrial DNA from 25 bodies recovered from patios outside excavated Xaltocan houses. The remains dated from between 1240 and 1521, and so acted as markers of the population before and after the occupation. It turned out that the DNA in the pre-conquest samples did not match those of the post-conquest ones, indicating that a new biological influence came with cultural overthrow.

The team concedes that its sample is small and may not be entirely representative of the historical conquest. "We originally thought the question was simply a matter of whether the population was replaced or not," says Mata-Míguez. "Now we have even more research questions, not just about the site, but about households in the site."

He identifies three scenarios that fit the genetic data. One possibility is that the Aztecs might have entirely replaced the Otomí at Xaltocan. Mata-Míguez considers this unlikely, given the archaeological persistence of at least some Otomí after 1395.

Alternatively, there might have been a cultural cascade: after the elite Otomí fled, houses and land would have been left empty, so new members of the original community might have moved into the space, or there might have been an influx of migrants.

Finally, there could have been a switch in how households were inherited.

[SunkenCiv]

Colin Sinclair/Photoshot

[SunkenCiv]

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• Cosmic rays may reveal pre-Aztec tomb secrets
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• Mexico City dig reveals diversity of pre-Columbian people

[SunkenCiv]

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[oh8eleven]

... so it is possible that what was a maternally inheriting community before the conquest became a paternally inheriting one afterwards.
Gloria Steinem is going to be pissed.

[Just mythoughts]

I love DNA. That marker from the beginning set in motion to identify who is who and who is NOT.

[Texan5]

The Aztecs were like latter day Romans-conquer every other tribe, rape, pillage and steal their stuff, enslave them and execute anyone who didn’t agree.

Since most of my ancestors were mestizo-Spanish/Native-I hope they were from just about any tribe but the Aztecs-the Spaniards were bad enough...

[Texan5]

DNA has apparently thrown into doubt that all the early natives of this continent were of Asian ancestry, but quite a few were likely from Europe and maybe Africa as well-proves that when people got curious about “over there” they built boats.

[Just mythoughts]

DNA has apparently thrown into doubt that all the early natives of this continent were of Asian ancestry, but quite a few were likely from Europe and maybe Africa as well-proves that when people got curious about “over there” they built boats.

The literal evidence of what any DNA demonstrates makes void a whole lot of claims. Wonder what the Adam's DNA would show?

[Texan5]

We can only guess...

I think when DNA evidence smacks down any group’s bigoted claim of racial purity (whatever that means), be it neo-Nazis, Aztlan lunatics, African supremacists, etc, it is a good thing. If people have been intermixing for tens of thousands of years, it really renders racial prejudice idiotic and moot.

[SunkenCiv]

;’)

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Texan5.

[Just mythoughts]

We can only guess... I think when DNA evidence smacks down any group’s bigoted claim of racial purity (whatever that means), be it neo-Nazis, Aztlan lunatics, African supremacists, etc, it is a good thing. If people have been intermixing for tens of thousands of years, it really renders racial prejudice idiotic and moot.

God created the soul/spirit of all His children. Up until the OJ trial I had no clue what DNA could describe about any one flesh body. God sure never claimed any of His children had supremacy over another because of skin color, that is the devil's workshop. God's requirement is love from His children regardless of their ethnicity.